Okay, I mean this with all due respect because I think you folks are fantastic! But, I need to ask since I do not seem to see the answer on the forums. (Unless I missed it)
Why did you raise the membership rate? I get a membership form in the mail with the $15 crossed off and a handwritten $20 substituted. Yet no where in the letter with the form is there an explanation as to the increase in membership dues.
As most of you know, I do not live in your area, yet I joined and became a member because I was born in Rock Island and my family still lives in the QC area. I try to ride your trails and even help when I could with trail care/races etc. whenever I am home for a few days.
Now some of you may think it's silly for me to question 5 dollars and may even chastise me for it amongst yourselves, I don't know. But in this day and age of economic duress, why add to it? 5 bucks gives one of my four children lunch at school for a week.
I can't even think about where I will get the cash to make repairs to my bike if needed right now, my property taxes just went up again, and the cost of feeding my family is getting increasingly higher. So in the grand scheme of things, should I cough up the extra 5 bucks to the club? I guess I will just have to think about that one a little harder than I did last year. Priorities have a way of making these decisions for you I'd say.
If this was addressed in another post, then I apologize in advance for my rant. If it was not, however, I believe an explanation is order.
Again, I do not mean to be disrespectful, I just saw my FORC membership come in the mail with my tax notice. Call it bad timing or whatever, but that's just the way it happens I guess.